Oculus Rift – 10 reasons why all eyes are back on virtual reality

A prototype demo is already available for Facebook’s Oculus Rift VR headset, while Immersive VR Education has been showing the app at a series of events for students in Ireland, to drum up support.

“We have created an inspirational journey that we hope will engage students and give them a better understanding of what took place way back in 1969,” explains the company’s Kickstarter pitch.

“We don’t just want kids to read about history, we want them to experience history as a living entity that they can relate to.”

If successful in its crowdfunding campaign, the company will expand the prototype into a full app with more detailed models, animated avatars and interactive features, with audio – including interviews – with astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.

“There is no denying that Apollo 11 is still very much a work in progress. It still needs, at least, to add the lunar landing itself and the return voyage to feel complete.

There are also improvements to be made to the existing segments – some textures are missing or could be enhanced and adding more animations would have a big impact on immersion. If you’re not naturally interested by the subject matter then it could be considered a little slow at times, but on the whole it is very well composed.”

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The Apollo 11 Experience is the latest example of VR technology being used outside the gaming sector that was the initial focus for Oculus Rift maker Oculus VR, which was bought by Facebook for $2bn in 2014.